Portable elevating scaffold



May 28, 1929.

W. A. LAMBERT PORTABLE ELEVATING SCAFFOLD Filed A ril 10,- 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 28, I w. A. LAMBERT l,7-l5.200

Q I PORTABLE ELEVATING SCAFFOLD I Filed April 10, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 T5: 5.3 v 23 J 9/ y 23, 1929- V w. A. LAMBERT 7 1,715,200

PORTABLE ELEVATING S CAFFOLD Filed April 10, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIII "Ill IIIIII II F Patented May 28, 1929.

WILLIAM ANDERSON LAMBERT, or soon: CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

PORTABLE ELEVATING- SCAF FOLD.

Application filed April 10, 1928. Serial No. 271,638.

This invention relates to a portable elevating scaffold and particularly to a construction embodying a movablecarrier supporting a platform adapted to be elevated to different positions A scaffold of this character adapted to be .quickly and. readily moved both vertically.

and horizontally, for instance in building and painting operations, requires that the control for the several movements of the scaffold be centralized upon the working platform. For this purpose controlling means for elevating the platform are located thereon and connected to the supporting uprights and also controlling means for shifting the carrier horizontally are extended for the height of such uprights so as to be readily accessible from the platform at any desired elevation. It is also desirable to provide means by which the uprights of the elevator may be folded for transportation or storage and rendered extensible to provide the desired height in connection. with the Work.

It is' also important to provide a simple form of pawl and ratchet mechanism including a holding member which will apply a brake in one direction of the movement of the pawl. In order to prevent obstruction of the platform by the operating means, the raising levers are disposed practically level with the floor thereof while the operating means for the horizontally movable carrier is adapted to be removed from the operating shaft for the carrier. r

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction of scaffold including a horizontally movable carrier-having uprights and a platform connected, for vertical movement upon said uprights, together with means for actuating the carrier operable from the platform at different elevations thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for elevating the platform of the scafio'ld including winding drumsmounted upon the platform and having connecting cables extending to the upper portion of the supporting uprights togetherwith pawl and ratchet means for operating the Winding drums and means for retaining them in fixed position.

A further object of thcinvention to present a new construction of portable ele-- vating scaffold in which means shifting the carrier horizontally are mounted thereon and provided with a vertically extending shaft adapted to be rotated from the platform of the scaffold in its various elevated positions relative to the carrier.

A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide an improved operatinglever for engaging the shaft extended from the .car-

rier for imparting a horizontal movement thereto, such lever being adapted-for removablea-pplication as desired.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the invention applied;

Figure 2 is a top plan;

Figure-3 is an enlarged vertical section;

Figure 4 is a section on line H of Figure 3;

F igure 5 is a similar. view of line 5-5 of Figure 3; I

Figure 6 is a detail section on line (r6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an elevation of the operating lever for the carrier;

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig.- ure 7;

Figure 9 is a detail perspective showing the extensible sections of the carrier operating shaft; and

Figure 10 is a similar view of the extensible sections of the supporting uprights.

Like reference characters designate cor responding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The scaffold may be constructed of any desired material, size, or configuration dependent upon the character of work to which it is to be applied and the load to be carried thereby. When used for purposes such as painting or surfacefinishing, the parts may be of comparatively light construction so as to be quickly moved in position, both vertically and horizontally, as the work rapidly progresses. When used for building purposes and the platform designed to carry a load of material, a heavier construction would be desirable.

In the present application'of the invencarrier which is designed to be shifted horizontally for instance upon the supporting wheels 12 and when, desired to secure a proper level, tracks 13 may be used for this purpose, altho if the carrier is operated on a level base suchtrackswould not be necessary. Var'ious means may be used for shifting the carrier, for instance, a; cable 14 may be secured at its opposite ends 15 upon proper supports and wound around a drum-'16 carried by the operating'shaft 17 having a pivot 18 upon. the carrier.- LThis'shaft is extended vertically for any desired height and fo'rithat purposean extensible section 19 may be used'whi ch seats upon the V pivoted: end 17 of the shaft as shown at 20. v

The shaft 17 is afdaptedto extend through an aperture 21"in the platform 22 of the scaffold and this" shaft 'is-also bracedby a bracket 23 carried by this platform. 7 The shaft is preferably formed with a rectangular vface adapted to receive an operating leverr24 which is applied at the upper face engaging jaw 28 may, he angular to fit the face ofthe shaft l'fand is held in engagement therewith as shown in Figure 8. In-

' Ward pressure upon the jaw will release it c from the shaft 17 and permit verticaladjlust' ment" thereon to the height most convenient V for the operator upon the platform. If it be desired toentirely remove the-lever 24, for instance, to avoid; obstruct-ion when working on the platform, the jaw 28 may lie slid rearwardly with its pivot 27 transversing the slot; 26" which leaves the hook'open for lateral removal from the angular shaft. The base or carrier 11 is provided with supporting uprights 31 at its opposite ends,

' these beingpreferably arranged at the corners of the platform 22. These uprights may be of angular construction as shown in Figure 4 andcooperate with rollers 32 upon theinner and outer'faces of the platform. The platform is also provided with brackets 33secured thereto and carr in rollers cooperating with avertical track 35 mounted upon the cross membersconnected to the uprights. This provides against movement 'of the platform either longitudinally or transversely upon the uprights. In orderto:

vary the height of the uprights for buildingsof different elevations they are adapted to be formed ofextensible sections as indicated at 36 1n Figures 1- and 10,-the upper section being similar in construction to the lower and connected thereto by any desired means such as the plates 37, one of which overlaps the uprights carrying the otherplate.-

When it is iently collapsed or folded downward and for desired to transporter store I the scaiiold,the uprights may be conventhis purpose the extensible sections. 36' are 7 removed and the 'member's 31 which rest upon the carrier 11 are connected thereto by a pivot, such asthe hinge 38 which is secured to the carrier and to. a cross plate 39 connecting the uprights at each end" of the carrier. This plate is provided with'anzaperture 40 for the passage ofvthe cable 14 lay-which the carrier is horizontally 'shifted.-- To resist any" tendency of the uprights to swing on their pivotal connectionthey may be suitably held by thefbraces 41 detaohably connected to 'theiuprights andsides' ofthe-carrier as shown in Figure 1; 7

For the purpose of elevating the platform '22 a winding shaft 42 is pivotally'mounted beneathithe same in any suitablemanner, for instance, pivoted 1n the end plates 43'. V This shaft has secured atits opposite GDdSCWlHd ing drums 414 from which cables 45 extend to a connection 46 at the top. of the uprights, v

as shown in Figuresl and 10.

' Theshaft 42 has secured th' reto a windingratchet 43 which 'cooperates with a pawl44 plvotally mounted at 45: upon the lever: 46 \VlllOll'lS forked at itsinner end 47 to em:

bracethe ratchet 43 and freely swing upon the shaft 42. The pawl is normally held in engagement with the ratchet by a spring 48:

interposed between the handle of the pawl ice and'the lever 46', as shown in Figure 6; An

oscillatingmovement of this lever effects a winding of the. shaft and drums causinga consequent elevation of the platform upon the up.rights.- v o I In order'to. prevent an accidental re-lease of this pawl and the consequent downward movement oft-he platform a holdinglever 49 is provided and formed'with a pawlfiO en-. gaging a ratchet 51 also secured totheshaft 42 and thisholding pawl is held under ten? sion in contact with the ratchet-by means of a rod 52 extending from the lever '49 and tensioned' downwardly hy a'sp ring 53 engaging the. headhelon the rod, as shown in Figuref5. 'VVhen this holding pawl is rer leased topermit downward movement of the platform, it is essential to apply a brake and cooperate with drums 56 at each side of the holding ratchet 51, the opposite: end of this strap being 'secured'at 57 to theplatform while the inner end of the lever .49Jisalso,

' connected to the platform by a pivote'dj'oint.

The platform 22 is' preferabl y provided with an extended shelf portion 60 pivotally connected to the inner edge of the platform as at 61 and retained against downward 'movement by a brace 62' engaging a relati n-z-' the lever 49 carries brake straps 55qwhichi ly fixed part By this means the platform can be extended immediately adjacentthe building or work so that the operator can most conveniently reach the same.

The operation of the invention will be generally apparent from the foregoing description from'which it wil be seen that means are provided for horizontally adjusting the carrier from the platform of the scaffold and that this scaffold may also be adjusted vertically and held in its adjusted positions by means upon such platform. These means involve a lever for the operation of the winding drums carried by the platform and an independent holding lever by which the platform may be re leased for downward movement and a braking action effected during such movement. In the release of the platform the pawl of the winding lever is retracted and the holding lever raised against the tension of its retaining spring. The invention also pre sents a very efiicient form of a detachable operating lever for the carrier travel which is adapted for vertical adjustment upon the shaft from the carrier extending through the platform and also is removable from this shaft laterally thereof under certain conditions of use.

The platform is guided upon the uprights and held against movement by the corner rollers thereon and also the guide rollers which resist any longitudinal displacement. The platform when raised to its position of use may be extended toward the building by the pivoted portion which is swung into a horizontal plane parallel with the platform and permits the operator to closely approach the work.

lVhile this specific construction has been herein shown and described the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as recited in the following claims.

lVhat I claim is 2-- 1. In a portable elevating scaffold, a carrier, means connected with the carrier for moving the same horizontally, uprights upon the carrier, a vertically movable platform between the uprights, elevating means connecting the uprights and platform, means on the platform to operate the elevating means, a winding device mounted upon the platform, and a holding and braking device upon said platform for controlling the downward movement thereof.

2. In a portable elevating scaffold, a carrier, means for moving the same horizontally, uprights upon the carrier, a vertically movable platform, elevating means connecting the uprights and platform, means on the platform to operate the elevating means, a vertical shaft extended from the carrier moving means through said platform, andan nected to said uprights, a winding drum mounted on the carrier, :1 fixed cable cooperating with said drum, an operating shaft for said drum extended vertically through the platform and parallel to said uprights, and a detachable operating lever for said shaft disposed adjacent the platform.

l. As a sub-combination in a portable elevating scaffold, an operating shaft, lever comprising a hook to embrace said shaft, and a jaw mounted upon the hook o interlock with said shaft.

5. As a sub-combination in a portable elevating scaffold, an operating shaft, a lever comprising a hook to embrace said shaft, a jaw mounted upon the hook to interlock with said shaft, and means to effect a longitudinal movement of the jaw relative to the hook to permit a. lateral withdrawal of the hook from said shaft.

6. In a portable elevating scaffold, a base, uprights mounted thereon, a platform between said uprights mounted for vertical movement upon said uprights, a winding shaft upon said platform provided with a drum, a cableextending from said drum to the upper end of an upright, means upon said scaffold for rotating said shaft, and means upon said scaffold for retaining said shaft in position and applying a brake thereto when the shaft is released. I

7. The combination defined by claim 6 in which the shaft winding means comprises a pawl and ratchet member, and the shaft holding means includes a holdingpawl cooperating with a ratchet on the shaft and a brake engaging means upon said shaft.

8. In a portable elevating scaffold, a base, uprights supported thereon, a platform vertically movable upon said uprights, a winding shaft carried by said platform and provided with drums at its opposite ends, cables extending from said drums to said uprights, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a winding lever pivoted upon said shaft, and a pawl mounted upon said lever to engage said ratchet wheel.

9. In a portable elevating scaffold, a base, uprights supported thereon, a platform vertically movable upon said uprights, a windingshaft carried by said platform and provided with drums at its opposite ends, cables extending from said drums to said uprights, a, ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a winding lever pivoted upon said shaft, a pawl mounted upon said lever to engage said ratchet wheel, a holding ratchet secured to said shaft and provided with a brakedrum, a lever. pivoted to the platform and pro ided with a pawl engaging said holding ratchet, and a brake strapseoured at one end and connected to the holding lever at its opposite end to engage'the drum upon withdrawal of the holding ziwl from its ratchet.

10. In a portable elevating scaffold, a base,

' uprights pi-votally mounted thereon, to-folddownward when the scaffold: is collapsed, 21 "platform, elevating means extending from said platform to the upperend; of saidupnights, means-upon the'plat'form for actuating the'e'levating means, friction rollers-at the front and rear oi the platform engaging said uprlghts, vertical tracks at the oppoe WILLIAM ANDERSON; LAMBERT. 

